## 12.7. Escape Sequences

Sequence | Effect
--- | ---
`\\` | Prevent or delay the interpretation of \.
`\e` | Printable version of the current escape character (usually `\`).
`\'` | `´` (acute accent); equivalent to `\(aa`.
`\‘` | `‘` (grave accent); equivalent to `\(ga`.
`\-` | – (minus sign in the current font).
`\.` | Period (dot).
`\``space` | Unpaddable space-size space character.
`\``newline` | Concealed (ignored) newline.
`\0` | Digit-width space.
`\|` | 1/6-em narrow space character (zero width in `nroff`).
`\^` | 1/12-em half-narrow space character (zero width in `nroff`).
`\&` | Nonprinting, zero-width character.
`\!` | Transparent line indicator.
`\"` | Beginning of comment.
`\$``n` | Interpolate macro argument 1 n 9.
`\%` | Default optional hyphenation character.
`\(``xx` | Character named xx. See Section 12.9
`\*``x` or `\*(`xx | Interpolate string x or xx.
`\a` | Noninterpreted leader character.
`\b'``abc`...`'` | Bracket-building function.
`\c` | Make next line continuous with current.
`\C'``abcd``'` | Character named abcd (`ditroff` only).
`\d` | Forward (down) 1/2-em vertical motion (1/2 line in `nroff`).
`\D'l` `x``,`y`'` | Draw a line from current position by deltas x,y (`ditroff` only).
`\D'c` `d``'` | Draw circle of diameter d with left edge at current position (`ditroff` only).
`\D'e` `d1 d2``'` | Draw ellipse with horizontal diameter d1 and vertical diameter d2, with left edge at current position (`ditroff` only).
`\D'a` `x1 y1 x2 y2``'` | Draw arc counterclockwise from current position, with center at x1,y1 and endpoint at x1+x2,y1+y2 (`ditroff` only).
`\D'~` `x1 y1 x2 y2`...`'` | Draw spline from current position through the specified coordinates (`ditroff` only).
`\f` `x` or `\f(`xx or `\f` n | Change to font named x or xx or to position n. If x is `P`, return to the previous font.
`\g` `x` or `\g(`xx | Format of number register x or xx, suitable for use with `.af`
`\h'``n``'` | Local horizontal motion; move right n or, if n is negative, move left.
`\H'``n'` | Set character height to n points, without changing width (`ditroff` only).
`\k` `x` | Mark horizontal input place in register x.
`\l'``nc``'` | Draw horizontal line of length n (optionally with c).
`\L'``nc``'` | Draw vertical line of length n (optionally with c).
`\n` `x`, `\n(`xx | Interpolate number register x or xx.
`\n+``x`, `\n+(`xx | Interpolate number register x or xx, applying auto-increment.
`\n-``x`, `\n-(`xx | Interpolate number register x or xx, applying auto-decrement.
`\N'``n``'` | Character number n in the current font (`ditroff` only).
`\o'``abc`...`'` | Overstrike characters a, b, c ...
`\p` | Break and spread output line.
`\r` | Reverse 1-em vertical motion (reverse line in `nroff`).
`\s` `n`, `\s±`n | Change point size to n or increment by n. For example, `\s0` returns to previous point size.
`\s(``nn`, `\s±(`nn | Just like `\s`, but allow unambiguous two-character point sizes (recent `ditroff` only).
`\S'``n``'` | Slant output n degrees to the right. Negative values slant to the left. A value of zero turns off slanting (`ditroff` only).
`\t` | Noninterpreted horizontal tab.
`\u` | Reverse (up) 1/2-em vertical motion (1/2 line in `nroff`).
`\v'``n``'` | Local vertical motion; move down n, or, if n is negative, move up.
`\w'``string``'` | Interpolate width of string.
`\x'``n``'` | Extra line-space function (n negative provides space before, n positive provides after).
`\X'``text``'` | Output text as a device control function (`ditroff` only).
`\z` `c` | Print c with zero width (without spacing).
`\{` | Begin multiline conditional input.
`\}` | End multiline conditional input.
`\``x` | x, any character not listed above.

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